Vinit Nijhawan swings open the artistic wooden front door of their lovely home with one hand and motions me inside. It is a cool summer night and I am meeting Vinit and Deepti Nijhawan, to profile a busy, two-career couple.

Waiting for Deepti to finish a call, I gaze around the Nijhawans aesthtically decorated home. Comfortable couches curve around a fireplace in the family room. Plenty of collectibles placed all around with books and photographs accentuate an air of luxurious warmth and homeliness. Deepti's collection of original paintings of various artists, which she has picked over the years impart a rich look to the ambience.

"Hi, so have you come to find out what consumes our life, Deepti says with a laugh, referring to my persistent efforts to interview them. Just then, 15 year old Rishi walks in. Namaste! He says shyly and waits to talk to her. "Maybe it is time to go to bed?" she suggests.

Soon the three of us are sitting around the living room, discussing the challenges of balancing a two-career, three-kid marriage.

Deepti is an architectectural designer by Profession and also currently the President of MITHAS, a non profit organization that hosts concerts and events which bring the culture and Arts of South Asia to New England. Her first Job was in a Private Architectural Firm in Delhi and then in Philadelphia. In between she acquired Masters degree in Architecture and City Planning. After another long stint at Cambridge working in Public Housing, she has branched out to be an independent consultant.

Vinit is equally busy as President and Chief Executive Officer of Taral Networks. His high-technology enterprise specifically focuses on multimedia messaging (MMS) and enabling the delivery of content from any application server to any MMS enabled device over any operator network. Vinit is also a Charter Member at TIE, has been part of IAFPE and has various hobbies and interests. Rather, I am interested in too many things, says Vinit smiling.

The Nijhawan's are very much like any other couple juggling a family and two demanding careers, but are sure of one thing,"We want our focus on being together as a family. However, with so many demands on their time, it is always a struggle.And so, in the home, in the office and in raising their kids, Rishi 15, Arun 14 and Rohan 13, the Nijhawan's first priority is family. In fact, their commitment to this aspect began in the early years of their relationship.

"When we first went out the funniest thing happened says Vinit. We came out after dinner, and could not locate my car anywhere. Fearing that it was stolen, Vinit called the police but it turned out that it was illegally parked and had been towed away. Maybe she felt that she had to marry me, then, Says Vinit laughing and Deepti joins in. The courtship went on for eleven months with long distance phone calls and plenty of chocolates that Deepti admits she has always had a weakness for.

When Vinit finally moved to the United States, he found himself totally on new ground.  barely knew anyone except two graduates from MIT" and very soon the three of them formed a company called Payload systems. A space enthusiast, Vinit traveled to Moscow with his team and conducted experiments on the space station Mir. Recalls Vinit ,It was very exciting and I think we were also the first U.S. Company to obtain an export license for and to conduct research aboard the Soviet space station". All this while, Deepti stayed back. The kids were too young at that time. I was also working for the Boston Redevelopment Authority and I had not yet learnt how to drive a stick shift. So every day I would take the bus to work with the three kids all bundled up and drop them off at Day Care. It was close to the place where I worked, so that really helped. One day finally, a huge storm disrupted the bus service so I was forced to take the car out and drive",she says ruefully.

Since the early years of their marriage, Vinit has encouraged his wife to use her abilities"she's talented and I want to recognize and support her talents." Deepti pipes in We bounce ideas off to each other as we work in different fields. The working styles of the two are very different. For instance; the Nijhawans have recently bought a older home in Lexington and our renovating it to modern needs. It is a great challenge, says Deepti .When you are designing your own home, you want to implement all the ideas that come into your head. The work is never done. But Vinit is good at sensing what works and what doesn't. I can conceptualize better.

Vinit is quick to point out that Deepti has likewise encouraged his talents. Involved in a number of successful start ups, Vinit would have less time to help out around the house, but she recognized that he had a passion and she wanted to see him fulfill it.

Despite the Nijhawan's commitment to using their leadership talents, they don't want to look back and see that they succeeded at the expense of their children. When Rishi, Rohan and Arun were kids, Deepti worked only part time. The reason was, I had two children with special needs. There is a lot to follow up and we are always conscious to give them the best possible. We did not want to be two parents working 70 hours a week and then feeling guilty in the weekends.

Once the kids entered school, Deepti found herself putting in more time at the office. When she accepted the Presidency of MITHAS three years ago, her commitment was total. Puran Dang, Chairperson of MITHAS and a long time friend says, I saw her interest in Arts and Culture and requested her to come on Board. And my thinking was right. She is very sincere, dynamic and highly respected. She is a great motivating force for volunteers and takes tremendous responsibility on her shoulders". George Ruckert, the force behind Mithas agrees,  Deepti has done a superb job as President. She has carried the message of Mithas very well and has been instrumental in bringing some excellent programs. She has expanded the Board and has used her skills to bring in successful fundraisers.

Also, the two have learned that some things such as family traditions are essential in building a home. Diwali for instance is one of the family favorites. Deepti recalls Diwali in her Childhood, The past in Jadugoda, Khetri, Delhi or Asansol was always the same: 'sandhya' at sunrise, diyas and patakas at sunset. Wearing new clothes, setting up for the evening Lakshmi pooja, father writing the gayatri mantra on a bedroom wall with a cotton tipped matchstick dipped in mother's sindhoor 'ink'. Lighting diyas in the evening gave way to the ease of lighting candles in recent years. However, that was twenty three years ago"

Here,the Nijhawans Diwali day is setting up the altar at home, lighting candles at sunset and doing a simple pooja. The best part, Deepti says is when each child reads a chapter of his choice from a book on Hinduism, followed by a discussion on how that topic pertains to our lives.

So how do the Nijhawans keep their marriage and family together? We have a great social life. Neither of us works during the weekend and we always take vacations. Says Deepti. Rishi, the eldest is fond of hiking and she recalls fondly how Arun, Rishi and Vinit walked 9 miles at White Mountains one time on Rishi's insistence. "They went up with such determination and they finally made it she says proudly and these are those precious moments that you treasure. Rishi loves Chess, Arun loves tennis and Rohan loves to play magic cards with his friends. The kids' new found interest is Punjabi MC, the rapper. Haven't you heard of him! exclaims Vinit as I get ready to leave. You need to go and listen to it right away.

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